On this day in 1999, John Reames revealed that his unusual spell as Lincoln City chairman-manager would end when the season finished, with Phil Stant identified as the man who would replace him.
The announcement came at a supporters’ forum, where Reames surprised those in attendance by declaring:
“I will not be here in 12 months.”
He was not preparing to sever his association with the club immediately, but he had decided that the 1999/2000 campaign would be his final one in the dugout. After almost 15 years as chairman and nearly ten months managing the first team, Reames had concluded that trying to perform both roles was taking up too much of his time.
“I have been all over the country in the last few weeks spending evenings in Hull and Huddersfield watching young players to bring to this club and it has taken up a lot of time.
“I can tell you this will be my last season.”
Reames had taken control of team affairs in November 1998 following the dismissal of Shane Westley. It was a dramatic decision, particularly because Westley had guided City to promotion just a few months earlier after replacing John Beck towards the end of the 1997/98 season.
Life in Division Two had been difficult. A 2-1 defeat at Walsall left the Imps bottom of the table and prompted Reames to act, dismissing Westley and his assistant Wally Downes before placing himself in charge. The arrangement was initially presented as a short-term solution. Reames was assisted by senior player Stant and physiotherapist Keith Oakes, but the chairman soon decided to continue in the role.
He was following a path taken by a small number of other chairmen at the time, including Michael Knighton at Carlisle United and Ron Noades at Brentford. However, it remained an extraordinary situation. The man responsible for appointing, supporting and, if necessary, dismissing the manager was also the manager himself.
An Unusual Arrangement
There had been scepticism from the moment Reames moved from the directors’ box to the dugout. Being chairman of a lower-league football club was already a demanding position, particularly when money was tight. Combining that responsibility with scouting, selecting the team and overseeing training placed almost every major footballing and financial decision in the hands of one man.
Reames felt his experience helped him understand the wider demands of the job.
“There are experienced ex-players walking into management jobs all the time, but they know nothing about finance or man-management.
“But we have worked very closely together over the past months and I think Phil has gained a great deal of experience.
“I have no doubt he can do the job.”
The decision to nominate Stant as his successor was hardly a surprise. He had joined City from Bury in December 1996 and scored 16 times in 22 league appearances during the remainder of that season.
His playing career was winding down by 1999, but his influence behind the scenes had increased. Stant had assisted Westley during the promotion run and remained part of the management structure after Reames took control. The chairman’s announcement confirmed that he was being prepared for the top job.
“I think Phil Stant will be more than capable of taking over the reins,” added Reames.
The news reportedly received a positive response from supporters at the forum, many of whom had been sceptical about Reames combining the two positions from the outset.
Relegation Despite the Revival
Reames’ first season in charge had offered genuine hope before ending in relegation. When he took over in November 1998, City were bottom of Division Two and seven points from safety.
A run of seven victories in 14 matches after Christmas dragged them out of the relegation places and created belief that an unlikely escape could be completed. That recovery represented a significant achievement given the position Reames had inherited. However, five successive defeats during the spring pulled the Imps back into trouble. They faced Wycombe Wanderers on the final day needing to win and hoping other results would fall in their favour, but a 1-0 defeat confirmed an immediate return to Division Three.
After making the announcement, Reames went on to win the Division Three Manager of the Month award for October 1999 before stepping away from the dugout the following year. His contribution to City extended far beyond management. During 15 years as chairman, he oversaw the rebuilding of Sincil Bank, helped return the Imps to the Football League in 1988 and appointed Keith Alexander in 1993. He later bought Sincil Bank back from the council and, when he resigned as chairman in November 2000, left £400,000 in trust to help protect the club’s future.
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